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100 mins 
Russian
Crystal Swan
Хрусталь
Programme Note
A stunning female-led drama which follows Velya, as she tries to game the early ’90s Belarus immigration system to fulfil her dream to become a DJ in Chicago. Velya fights for her freedom as she sinks further and further into early post-Soviet turmoil with every step of her adventure. The film was selected as the Belarusian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.
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Geraldine Sebastian
Compelling
I watched this film twice. It made me think back to my youth, where everything seemed possible. Eventually reality sets in and you realise that there is no such thing as freedom. I liked the way the layers of what at first seemed to be quite a selfish self obsessed person were slowly peeled away to reveal quite a nice person underneath. A satisfying film.
Awards and Festivals
2019
Winner
Programmers Award, Atlanta Film Festival, USA
2018
FIPRESCI Prize
Bratislava International Film Festival, Slovakia
2018
Nominee
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czechoslovakia
2019
Winner
Nika Awards, Russia
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